Children with disabilities deserve to lead dignified lives, equal chance to contribute to national development - First Lady | WestMac Media

By Staff Writer, Luanshya 

The First Lady, Esther Lungu has called for more concerted effort to address the plight of children with disabilities, who she said deserve to lead dignified lives and a chance to contribute to contribute to national development like any other citizens. 

Mrs Lungu appealed to Luanshya's Dagama School pupils to make good use of the time they were in school and work very hard and also desist from paying attention to anyone who makes attempts to treat them as if they were less human. 

“Every human being, including you our children here at Dagama School deserved to be treated in a dignified manner do not allow anyone to lower your self esteem,’’ she said. 

The First Lady also thanked the head teacher and the school management team for taking up the noble role of empowering the physically challenged children with education and income generating skills. 

Mrs Lungu said issues concerning the welfare of disabled children, women, the less privileged and marginalized people, who need love and care from everyone were close to her heart. 

The First was accompanied by Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe, Luanshya District Commissioner Joel Chibuye and Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda, during a tour of Dagama school for the disabled in Luanshya. 

Meanwhile, First Lady’s humility and amazing passion for uplifting the plight of children living with disabilities and the less privileged in society has earned her admiration from Luanshya mayor Nathan Chanda, civic leaders and residents who have eulogized her work. 

Mayor Chanda said it was an honour to host the First Lady, who visited Dagama School for children with special needs with the aim of understanding and appreciating the challenges which children with encounter on the daily basis as they strive to get educated. 

He said as City Father he was humbled by the First Lady’s choice to use Dagama School out of the many schools for the disabled children in the country to learn and interact with children with special needs whose plight she is committed to uplift. 

The Mayor further said the work of the First Lady has touched the lives of so many people and some civic leaders, who want to consider conferring her the dignity of Honour of Free Woman of the City, the highest mark of respect a local authority can award an individual. 

The Mayor added that the First Lady’s work was in line with President Lungu’s call that no individual should be left behind in the country’s quest to attain sustainable social- economic development, hence the need to give her all the necessary support. 

And according to the School Head Sister, Christine Chupi, Dagama School currently offering primary and secondary boarding facilities with 120 pupils from different parts of the country in boarding and 27 day scholars able-bodied orphaned and vulnerable pupils coming from the local community. 

Sister Chupi explained that despite facing funding challenges Dagama School is committed to attain its goals of providing care for the disabled children through rehabilitation, education and eventually integrating the physically disabled child into society. 

Dagama Home and School, which is owned by Franciscan Missionary sisters of Assisi, a Catholic Church grouping was opened in 1961 as a kindergarten it was later transformed into a home for children with physical challenges before becoming a school which opened with four handicapped children in 1966.